Three-phase Israel–Hamas war ceasefire proposal

Demonstrators rally in protest over the war in Gaza near the United Center where the Democratic National Convention (DNC) is taking place on Aug. 21, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.

The Palestinian factions Hamas and Islamic Jihad articulated their conditions for a potential agreement with Israel on Wednesday.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded his ninth diplomatic tour of the Middle East on Wednesday without securing a ceasefire in Gaza as violence continues to surge in the Middle East.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a phone call to discuss ongoing efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza, as Blinken concluded his ninth wartime tour of the Middle East.

Top U.S. diplomat Antony Blinken said Tuesday that "time is of the essence" to secure a Gaza truce as he wrapped up a Middle East tour with a plea for a deal.

Sources from the Israeli negotiating team accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of attempting to "blow up" the talks and obstruct reaching a hostage swap deal with Hamas, the Israeli public broadcaster KAN said Tuesday.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Monday that Israel has agreed to a bridging proposal aimed at advancing ceasefire talks, and urged Hamas to do the same before further negotiations set for later this week. Speaking from Tel Aviv, Blinken revealed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Israel's acceptance of the proposal during a constructive meeting.

This picture taken from Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip shows smoke billowing over the Hamad residential towers in Khan Yunis in the south following Israeli bombardment on Aug. 17, 2024.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced that the Israeli government has accepted the proposal put forward by the US last week for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

While in Israel, where he met with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other officials, Blinken also called on Hamas to agree to the ceasefire.

Top U.S. diplomat Antony Blinken on Monday urged Israel and Hamas not to derail negotiations that he said may be a "last opportunity" to secure a Gaza truce and hostage release deal.

Blinken, on his ninth regional tour since Hamas's Oct. 7 attack triggered the war, said he was back in Israel "to get this agreement to the line and ultimately over the line."

The meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv concluded after three hours.

According to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s press office, Netanyahu “reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to the current US proposal for the release of our hostages, which strongly considers Israel’s security needs.”